Mold for making building blocks



J. G: DAVIS I MOLD FOR MAKING BUILDING BLOCKS Filed April 2,8-, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet'l July 24,1923. 1,463,007

J. G. DAvls- MOLD FOR MAKING BUILDING BLOCKS .July 24, 1923. 1,463,007

J. G. DAvls MOLDv FOR MAKING BUILDING BLOCKS Filed/amil 28. 1920 4 sheets-sheet :s

July 24, 1923.

. Imam? J. G. DAVIS MOLD FOR MAKING BUILDING BLOCKS Filed April 28 l`920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l him-imm Patented July 24, i923.

JAMES G. DAVIS, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK;

riester ris.

MOLD FOR MAKlNG- BUILDNG Bl'JOGKS.

Application tiled April 28, 1920.

To all whom t may concern.

Be it known that I, JAMES G. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Buffalo` in the county of Erie and State of New York,` have invented new and useful Improvements in Molds :tor Making Building Blocks, oi which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a mold for malring sections or blocks ot gypsum concrete or similar plastic material for use in constructing floors and ceilings of buildings mainly of reinforced concrete. n

The particular building block which is designed to be made by this mold is generally of L-shape form and comprises a horizontal plate and a vertical flange arranged at one end of the plate.

It is the object or" this invention to provide a mold whereby such building blocks may be made quickly, economically, easily` accurately and with a minimum amount ot labor.

ln the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section ot the preferred form of mold embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section showing the mold adapted for forming a building block with a shorter iiange. Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 3 3, Fig. il. Figures 4t and 5 are perspective views of a co-operating pair of building blocks designed to be made by my improved mold. Figure 6 is a fragmentary section of a floor and ceiling construction containing building blocks made in a mold containing my invention. Figure 7 'is a top plan view ot the mold.

Similar characters of reference reter to like parts throughout the several views.

A floor and ceiling construction containing building blocks or sections made on the mold forming the subject of this invention comprises a plurality of upper blocks or sections and a plurality of lower blocks or sections. Each lower block comprises a comparatively long lower horizontal plate 10 and an upstanding flange 11 arranged at one end of the plate, andeach upper block comprises a comparatively short upper horizontal plate 12 and a depending flange 13 at one end of the upper plate. ln the assembled condition of a plurality of such blocks the unflanged end of each lower plate engages Serial No. 377,371.

the flanged end of an adjacent lower `plate andeach upper block has its unilanged end engaging the upper end of the upstanding flange of the companion lower block while its depending flange engages with the upper side of the horizontal vplate of the respective lower block and at a distance from theupstanding flange of an adjacent lower block, thereby forming a channel between the adjacent upstanding and depending flanges. A mass of concrete is spread over these blocks when assembled which forms a horizontal slab 15 over the blocks and vertical beams or girders 16 on the underside of the slab and in the channels between the opposing flanges oit the blocks. rlhe uni'langed edge of the upper horizontal plate is preferably beveled, as shown at 120. to avoid the formation oit a sharp corner which would be likely to be broken oit during shipping or installation. The untlanged end of each lower horizontal plate is held in place by providing the same with a beveled face 17 engaging with a correspondingly beveledface 18 on the flanged end or" the adjacent lower plate and the two llanges which form aV channel between them have their opposing outer sur 'faces 19,20 constructed so that this channel is comparatively narrow at a place between its top and bottom and widens upwardly and downwardly from said narrow part so that the beam 'formed therein will be of substantially hour-glass form in cross section and thus support said blocks when the mass of concrete becomes hard. The unflanged ends of the lower plates are further supported by means of anchors 21 embedded at their lower ends in that part of each lower plate forming the bottom of a channel and arran ed with its upper part in the concrete or t e beam so that when the latter` is dry the anchors embedded therein will firmly vsupport the j lower plate. The upper part oteachanchor is preferably constructed to form a chair or seat for reinforcing rods or bars'22 which in the iinished condition of the ceiling and floor .are embedded vin the lower part ofV the concrete forming the beam and thus strengthen the same lin a well knownmanner. These` anchors are preferably constructed of wirev vand secured to the 'top' of the lower platev so that they can be folded againstthe flat sur-v face of the plate for convenience in shippingA and then bent up into position for use.

For the purpose ot further interlocking the concrete of the beam with the flanges of the blocks the flanges are provided in their lower parts with notches 23 which receive the concrete when poured into the channels. To prevent the upper blocks from being broken when workmen walk upon the same while erecting the building, each of the upper blocks is preferably provided on the underside of its horizontal plate with a plurality of longitudinal ribs 25, 250. The flanges of the upper and lower blocks are also provided on their inner sides with a plurality of upright ribs 24, to strengthen the same.

The mold shown in Figs. l, 3 and 7, is

v.designed for making the upper building bloclrs but the same is capable of making the lower blocks and other forms of L- shaped bloclrs by suitably constructing the surfaces forming the cavity which receives the plastic material. ln these figures, 40

represents the stationary main frame of the mold which may be of any suitable construction. 26'represents a stationaryhori- Qzontal bottom board or plate which is mounted on the main frame land the upper side 27 of which is horizontal and flat and provided with a plurality of longitudinal grooves 28 so as to form the underside of the horizontal plate of an upper building block shown in Figs. 4 and 6. rlhe unflanged edge of this plate is formed by a rear end mold bar 29 arranged transversely over the rear end of the bottom plate and having its front edge 30 constructed to form the unflanged beveled edge of the horizontal plate of the building block. For this purpose this bar has its upper front corner 31 constructed to overhang forwardly and its rear edge is pivotally connected by hinges 32, or otherwise, to the bottom plate so that the rear end bar can be lowered and raised into and out of its operative position.

Extending downwardly from the front end of the top plate is an inner upright supporting wall 33 which is fixed to the main frame. On its front side this inner wall is yprovided with a removable platen 34' the face of which is provided with upright cleats 35 so that the same forms the inner ribbed surface of the flange of a building block.l This platen is removably secured by screws 36 or otherwise to the wall 33 so that the same may be replaced by a platen of avdifierent pattern, as will be explained further on.

Projecting forwardly from the lower edge ofthe inner wall 33 is a horizontal fiange 37 which forms the outer edge of the flange on the building block.

In front ofthe inner wall 33 is arranged anupright outer wall 38 which is movable toward and from the inner wall preferably by `pivotally connecting the lower ends of this outer wall is provided with an upright platen 40 which is detachably connected therewith by screws 4l, or otherwise and had its face constructed t0 form the pattern for the front side of the building block j flange.

42 represents two upright side plates which are arranged lengthwise alongopposite sides of the bottom plate, rear end bar and outer and inner walls and having their upper parts projecting above the longitudinal edges of the bottom plate and their front parts projecting across the space between the pattern faces of said outer and inner walls. rlhese side walls may be pivoted at their lower edges to the sides of the main frame by hinges 43 or otherwise so as to permit the same to swing inwardly and outwardly into their operativer and inoperative positions.

ln the operative position of the several parts of the mold the rear bar isswung downwardly, the outer wall is swung rearwardly and the side plates are swunginwardly into the positions shown in Figs. l, 3 and 7, thereby forming Ia mold cavity between these several members corresponding to the l -shaped'buildingi block it is desired to maire. After the mold sections have been thus assembled the plastic mass from which the building blocks are to be made, such forinstance as gypsum and saw dust mixed with water, is introducedv into the mold cavity until the same is filled after which the same is struck olf level with the upper surfaces of the outer wall, side plates and rear bar, and then left to dry and harden. i/Vhen the block has become sufficiently hard to permit of handling, the same is removed from the mold and/set awaytofinish its hardening sufficient for using the same inbuilding a floor or ceiling. Tov permit the easy removal of the finished block from the mold without injuring` the same the attendant first raises the rear edge bar, swings the outer wall forwardly and swings the sidewalls outwardly, thereby freeing the molded building block on its front side, rear edge and lateral sides and permitting easy removal thereof wit-hout liability of damaging the same. After the block has been removed the movable parts of the mold are again restored to their normal positions preparatory to making another block.

Various means may be employed for moving the movable members of the mold into and out of their operative positions but those shown in the drawingsV have' been the lower part of the main-frame and piv oted on the rear part thereof by a pin' 45 so as to turn vertically, a rock arm 46 projectingrearwardly from 4the rear end bar and connected by an upright link 47 with the rear arm of the main lever, an auxiliary or intermediate frontk lever V48 pivoted on the upper front part of the mainframe to swing vertically and provided on its upper arm with a slot 49 which receives a pin 50 on the outer mold wall while its rear arm is connected by an upright link 5l with the front arm of the main operating lever,y anda pair of yinclined links 52 which diverge upwardly transversely of the mold and are pivotally connected at their lower ends withopposite sides of the front arm of the main lever while their upper ends are pivotally con nected with the side mold plates 42, resp'ectively. Upon turning the main lever soI that its front arm is lowered and its rear arm raised the several mold members will bo shifted into their operati-ve position so that the mold is ready for casting a building block therein and upon turning this lever in the opposite direction the outer wall, side plates and rear mold bar willbe simultane-- ously moved away from the fixed` sections of the mold and leave the finished block free to be removed. y.

For the purpose of securely holding the movable mold membersin their closed position, locking means `are provided which preferably comprise a dog 53 pivoted on the front arm of the main lever and engaging a beak on its upper arm with an upright row of ratchet teeth 54 on a vertical bar 55 secured to the main frame, a spring 56 lcon-` necting the lower arm of the dog with the front arm of the main levervand' operating to hold this dog yieldingly inengagement with the ratchet teeth, and a locking lever 57 pivoted on lthe front arm of the main lever and connected by alink 58 with the upper arm of the dog, 'as shown in Fig. l. Upon depressing the front arm of the main lever the dog automatically retains the same in this position by engaging successively with the ratchet teeth, andby simply press-- ing upwardly on the locking lever the main lever is released preparatory to raising the front arm thereof for opening'the mold. j

1t is desirable to automatically lift and loosen the cast building block after the mold has been opened so as to Jfacilitate the removal of the block from the mold. This is efficiently accomplished by a vertically movable lifting bar 59 which is guided in a way 60 on the main frame and projects with its upper' end through an opening 61 in the bottom plate of the mold while its lower end is provided with a pin 62 which engages with a vertical slot 63 formed in a link 64 connected with the front arm of the main lever. The downward movement or .this ninna 4talis limited, Sq that. asapper end in the `depressed position ofv the same is flush with the upper side of the boty tom plate, by a stop on this bar engaging with a'st'op' 71 on the adjacent part of the` main framei At the'endy of the vvdownward movement of the lifting bar the pin 62 is arranged in` the upper part of the slot-63 1in` By providing thcinner and outer walls of the mold with removable platens tho patterns thereof can be changed to suit the length of fiange which is desired on the block. F or vinstance in Fig. lathe pattern on these platens is designed to produce a' comi` paratively long or high flangeon the building block while in Fig. 2 the pattern on these platens is designed to produce a Icomparatively low or short flange on the block. Similarly the horizontal plate` of the block can `be shortenedk if desired, -as compared with that produced in the moldof Fig.` l, by placing` filling lpieces 65 inthe rear ends of they grooves 28, and vattaching an extension piece 66 to the front-edgev of the rear mold bar 29, as shownin Fig. 2; i t

Whenit is desired to provide the horizontal `plates of the cast blocks with anchors 2l the latter are put in the mold so that they will become embedded in the 'plastic mass and lie with their exposed partsflat-l wise against `the outer side-'fof the block which exposed part is however bent to project from theblock before the 'concreteis poured over the anchors, Y

l claim as my invention ,A

l. A vmold for-making building blocks 'blocks and einbeds the:l

comprising; a stationary `horizontal bottom i plate, a mold oar movabletoward and from the upperrv rear part of said bottomplate, a` fixed inner'wall depending from the front edge of said bottom plate, a fixed b ottoin` flange projecting forwardly from vthe lower, i

edge of said inner wall, an outer wall movable toward and from said-inner wall and flange, and two side plates movable toward and from said bottom plate, mold bar, outer and inner walls and saidv flange. i

2. A mold for making l building blocks comprising astationary horizontal bottom plate7 a mold bar pivoted at its rear edge to swing toward and from the rear part of said bottom plate, a fixed inner Wall depending from the front end of said bottom plate,

inner wall andV flange and pivotally connected at its lower enge with said flange, two side plates movable toward Iand from i said bottom plate, mold bar7 outer and inner wallsy and bottom flange andpivotally supported at their lower ends, and mold opening and closingmeans for moving said mold bar, outer wall and side plates simultaneously into and vout of their operative position.

3. A mold for making building `blocks comprising a stationary horizontal bottom plate, a movable mold bar pivoted at its rear edge to the rear part of said bottom plate, a fixed inner wall depending from the front end 'of said bottomy plate, a fixed bottom flange projecting forwardly from the lower endv of said inner wall, an outer wall movable toward and from the inner wall and flange and pivotally connected at its lower edge with' said flange, two side plates movable toward and from said bottom plate, mold bar, outer andinner walls and bot- `tom flange and pivotally supported at their lower ends, and mold opening and closing means for moving said mold bar, outer wall and side plates simultaneously into and outv of their operative position comprising a main operating lever, upwardly diverging links connecting saidy lever kwith said 'side plates, and connections between said lever and said outer wall and mold bar.

4. A mold for making building blocks comprising a stationary horizontal bottom plate, a mold barpivoted at its rear edge to the rear part of said bottom plate, a fixed inner wall depending from the front end of said bottom plate, a fixed bottom iange projecting'forwardly from the lower end of said inner wall, an outer wall vmovable `toward `and from the innerfwall and flange and pivotally connected 'at its lower edge with said flange, two `side plates movable toward and from said bottom plate, mold bar, outer and inner walls and'bottom flange vand pivotally supported at their lower ends,

mold opening andA closing means `for moving said mold bar, outer wall and side plates simultaneously into and out" of their op y erative position comprising a main lever operatively connected with said movable mold members, and means for locking said lever in position when the mold is closed.

5. A mold for rmaking building blocks t ing said bar.

comprising abottom plate, a rearmold bar arranged on the rear part of said bottom plate, an inner wall-projecting downwardly from the front end ofsaid bottom plate, a

the mold cavity comprising a lifting bar normally arranged flush with the surface of the mold, and means for raising and. lower- 6. -A mold for making building blocks comprising va stationary horizontal bottom plate, a mold bar pivoted at itsI rear edge to the rear part of said bot-tom plate, a fixed inner wall dependingfrom the 'front end of said bottom plate, afixed bottom flange projecting forwardly from the lower end of said inner wall, an outer wall movable toward and from the inner wall and flange and pivotally connected at its lower edge with said flange, two side plates movable toward yand from said bottom plate, mold bar, outer and inner walls and bottom flange andpivotally supporting at their lower ends, mold opening and closing means for moving said mold bar, outer wall and side plates simultane ously into and out of their operative position comprising a main operating lever having a front arm and a rear arm, a rock arm projecting yrearwardly fromsaid mold bar, a link connecting said rock arm with the rear arm of said main lever, two upwardly diverging links pivotally'connected at their lower endswith the front arm of said main lever and pivotally connectedat their upper ends with said side plates, respectively, an

intermediate lever coimected with its upper v arm to said front wall, a link Connecting the lower -varm of said intermediate lever with the front arm ofsaid' main lever, and means for loosening the building block cast in said mold comprising averticaly movable lifting bar ladapted to engage yits upper side with the underside ofthe block, a guide for said lifting bar, a stop device Jfor limiting the downward movement of said lifting bar, a link connected ,at its lower end with said main lever and provided atlits upperend with avvertical slot, and a pin arranged on said lifting lever andengaging with said 

